On October 22, 1990, a Cessna 152 (registration N24359) operated by Midamerica Aviation Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Hannibal, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper landing technique, which resulted in a bounce and nose gear collapse due to excessive airspeed. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot bounced during a third landing attempt due to excessive airspeed, causing the nose gear to collapse and the propeller to strike the runway.
What happened
The pilot reported making two prior attempts to land at the airport, both of which were aborted due to excessive airspeed. On the third approach, the aircraft touched down with too much speed, resulting in a bounce. The pilot pushed the nose down to maintain control, which caused the nose gear to collapse. The propeller then struck the runway surface. The aircraft skidded to a stop, and the pilot exited the plane without further incident.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land with excessive airspeed on the third attempt. This led to a bounce and subsequent nose gear collapse. The propeller contact with the runway was a direct result of the gear failure.
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing technique, which resulted in a bounce and nose gear collapse due to excessive airspeed.